Irvine man dies in 100-mph motorcycle chase

A motorcyclist died after he crashed during a police pursuit Wednesday morning. The crash took place on the northbound side of the I-5 in Mission Viejo. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO

MISSION VIEJO – A 34-year-old man from Irvine is dead after he crashed on his Yamaha motorcycle with a Ford Explorer early Wednesday on the northbound 5 freeway south of La Paz Road, the California Highway Patrol said.

The man was identified as Javan Booth and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, said the Orange County coroner's office.

According to the CHP, at about 12:18 a.m. two CHP officers spotted Booth traveling in the fast lane at high speed on the northbound I-5 at Cristianitos Road.

CHP officers tried to pull him over for exceeding 100 mph, the CHP said.

Booth failed to stop for the CHP's emergency lights and siren and continued at high speed, the CHP said.

The pursuit ended on the northbound I-5 south of La Paz when Booth struck the right rear of a Ford Explorer that was traveling in the No. 3 lane, the CHP said.

After crashing with the Ford Explorer, the motorcycle veered toward the right shoulder and struck some bushes, according to the CHP. Booth was ejected from the motorcycle and struck the shoulder area.

The 19-year-old driver of the Explorer and a 20-year-old passenger were not injured, the CHP said.

Paul Staughton, Booth's brother-in-law, said he was with Booth before the crash. He said Booth's motorcycle mirrors did not work properly and he probably didn't realize the officers were behind.

"I know him. I know he wouldn't be running from the police," Staughton said. "It's not that hard to go that fast on a motorcycle. I'm sure he didn't hear them."

"He was getting home to his girls so he could take them to school the next day," Staughton added.

A motorcyclist died after he crashed during a police pursuit Wednesday morning. The crash took place on the northbound side of the I-5 in Mission Viejo. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO
Debris from a motorcycle is spread along the northbound I-5 in Mission Viejo on Wednesday morning. The driver of the motorcycle died in a crash while trying to evade the California Highway Patrol. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO
CHP officers work the scene of a crash in Mission Viejo on the northbound I-5 on Wednesday morning after a motorcyclist who was involved in a chase crashed and died. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO
California Highway Patrol officers investigate the scene of a crash Wednesday morning in Mission Viejo. A motorcyclist died after crashing during a pursuit on the northbound I-5. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO
The northbound I-5 in Mission Viejo was the site of a fatal motorcycle accident Wednesday morning. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO
California High Way Patrol officers work the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Mission Viejo on Wednesday morning. The driver of the motorcycle died after crashing during a pursuit. FROM ONSCENE VIDEO

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